Xiangyin silently withdrew, also instructing the matrons waiting outside to leave.
Lu Yunjian looked at the Queen: “Today, the Crown Princess entered the palace. Did she say anything important?”
The Queen chuckled lightly: “Why do you ask, Yunjian?”
Lu Yunjian: “For Your Majesty to immediately draft an internal Zha and send it to the Fengtian Hall, there must be something that Your Majesty cannot decide. Given Your Majesty’s wisdom, it must be a significant matter.”
The Queen blew lightly on the steam rising from her tea and said leisurely, “Yunjian, you are overthinking it. It’s just some trivial matters from the inner court.”
Lu Yunjian stared at the Queen, then lowered his voice: “Is it news about her?”
The Queen said, “Her? Who is ‘her’?”
Lu Yunjian: “You know what I mean.”
The Queen’s teacup landed heavily on the phoenix table.
She gave a cold laugh: “Everyone knows that the Crown Prince is a devoted lover, searching everywhere for his eloped sweetheart. But how many know that our Lord Lu is even more steadfast? That lowly woman, after you, has been passed around by who knows how many men.”
The man had already defiled her, yet you still cling to her with longing!
Upon hearing this, Lu Yunjian stood up and turned to leave.
The Empress called out loudly, “Where are you going?”
Lu Yunjian paused briefly but did not look back. “The Crown Princess intends to ruin her completely.”
The Empress retorted, “What? You want to save her?”
Lu Yunjian replied, “Why shouldn’t I save her?”
The Empress sneered, “Who is she? Have you forgotten who she is? She’s the concubine abandoned by the Crown Prince, the nun who was ordered into seclusion by the Emperor. And now you want to save her? What is she to you that you would save her?”
At these words, Lu Yunjian’s expression froze.
The Empress continued, “Yunjian, since you’ve already given up on her, don’t think about turning back. Don’t forget, it was you who handed her over to the Crown Prince!”
Lu Yunjian stood still for a long time, then let out a mocking laugh.
In a very low voice, he said, “Your Majesty, she was trained by my own hands. I won’t let her die, and I won’t allow anyone else to kill her.”
With that, he strode away without looking back.
The Empress stared at Lu Yunjian’s retreating figure for a long time before finally saying, “Prepare the carriage for Fengtian Hall.”
As the Empress left her chambers, the eunuch from Fengtian Hall arrived, summoning her to the Emperor’s presence.
The Empress immediately boarded her carriage and hurried to Fengtian Hall to meet Emperor Jingxi.
As it was just a routine audience for handling state affairs, Emperor Jingxi wore a simple narrow-sleeved dragon robe made of ramie, paired with a crimson belt.
His jet-black hair was tied up with a gold-inlaid jade crown, giving him an air of cold detachment that starkly contrasted with the intricate and ornate dragon carvings surrounding him.
The Empress had a vague sense that Emperor Jingxi had been unusually cold lately, like a block of ice.
However, she didn’t dwell on it and got straight to the point, bringing up the matter of Lady Ning.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingxi’s face darkened, and he asked displeasedly, “What’s wrong with that Lady Ning now?”
The Empress hesitated for a moment before replying, “Your Majesty, Lady Ning went missing some time ago, and now there’s finally some news about her.”
She then recounted the entire incident in detail, concluding, “The Crown Prince, upon hearing the news, refused to believe it and rushed to Nanqiongzi to investigate.”
Emperor Jingxi frowned, “Is it true that this Miaozhen woman has been involved with the Crown Prince’s guards?”
The Empress replied, “From what I’ve heard, it seems to be true.”
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow, “Seems to be? What do you mean by that, Empress?”
The Empress, unsure of how to respond, hesitated.
The Crown Prince was the Emperor’s only heir, the future ruler of Dahui.
Emperor Jingxi had poured all his hopes into this son, and now, with the Emperor’s intentions unclear, no one knew how he would handle the situation.
Would he relent, or would he stand firm?
Just then, the Imperial Guards suddenly reported that the Crown Prince had arrived, seeking an audience.
Emperor Jingxi snorted, “That unfilial son dares to come see me?”
The Empress stood up, preparing to take her leave.
Emperor Jingxi said, “Zitong, there’s no need for you to leave.”
The Empress stopped in her tracks.
Soon, the Crown Prince rushed in, frantic and anxious.
He knelt immediately and begged for a few days’ grace, saying that his former concubine’s life was in danger and he needed to find her.
Emperor Jingxi said coldly, “In danger? I heard she eloped with one of your guards. Isn’t the Yan Yang Temple already sending troops to investigate?”
The Crown Prince pleaded, “Father, she couldn’t have eloped with anyone. She’s been slandered, and I must clear her name!”
Emperor Jingxi replied icily, “Oh? So the guards of Yan Yang Temple would slander her?”
The Crown Prince’s face flushed with anxiety: “They must have bullied her, otherwise why would she run away!”
Emperor Jingxi replied nonchalantly: “She ran away with the guards from your Crown Prince’s residence.”
The Crown Prince clenched his fists and pleaded: “Father, since I brought her back to the capital, I intended to keep her by my side for life. If you command her to become a nun, I dare not disobey.”
“But I cannot believe that she would elope with someone just days after leaving me. I must investigate this myself and get to the bottom of it!”
He raised his head, looking up at his imposing father, and declared loudly: “I will not allow anyone to wrong her or tarnish her name!”
Emperor Jingxi, seated on the throne, gazed down at his son, who was defiantly shouting.
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
This was his heir, his own flesh and blood.
Now, for the sake of a lowly concubine, he was arguing with his father, disregarding propriety, and even neglecting the important task of reviewing the troops!
At that moment, he felt the urge to grab the paperweight beside him and hurl it at his son, but he restrained himself.
He could only blame himself.
After ruling the Great Hui Empire for over a decade, he had allowed his son to grow up in a time of peace, unaware of hardship, and had failed to cultivate the decisive demeanor befitting a future emperor.
The Crown Prince felt the weight of his father’s authority pressing down on him, but he knew he could not retreat.
This was the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, where a single decree could determine the lives of many.
If he took a step back, it would mean life or death for Awu.
No matter what, he had to ensure Awu’s survival-she must live!
At that moment, Emperor Jingxi suddenly spoke: “How about we make a bet, father and son?”
The Crown Prince: “What bet?”
Emperor Jingxi smiled calmly: “If that woman indeed eloped with a man, you will personally execute her.”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince’s expression wavered slightly.
Emperor Jingxi’s slender fingers lightly tapped the paperweight as he leisurely added: “What, are you afraid?”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his temples, his clenched fists trembling.
Emperor Jingxi: “It seems you know your concubine well, aware that she is fickle and unfaithful.”
Suddenly, his smile vanished, and he coldly retorted: “Even if she eloped with another man, you still wouldn’t have the heart to take her life?”
The Crown Prince steeled himself and finally said: “Fine, Father, I accept your bet. If she truly eloped with someone, I will personally execute her. But what if she didn’t?”
He looked at Emperor Jingxi: “What if she was framed by villains?”
Emperor Jingxi: “If she was framed by villains, then she shall remain at Yan Yang Temple to cultivate and pray for the prosperity of our Great Hui Empire.”
“One day, when her cultivation is complete, she may return to secular life, and perhaps you two will still have a chance.”
The Crown Prince knelt on one knee, his gaze fixed ahead, and said word by word: “Very well, Father. Please grant me three days. I will personally investigate the whereabouts of Lady Ning.”
Emperor Jingxi: “Three days?”
The Crown Prince: “After three days, regardless of the outcome, I will proceed to the northern regions to inspect military affairs and review the troops, fulfilling my duty as the Crown Prince of Great Hui!”
His words were resolute, and Emperor Jingxi nodded in satisfaction: “Excellent, you go.”
After the Crown Prince left the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, the room fell into silence.
The Empress listened quietly to the fading footsteps of the Crown Prince, and a sudden suspicion arose in her heart.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the stacks of memorials on the imperial desk, and said indifferently: “My Empress, you mentioned earlier that Yan Yang Temple has already apprehended Nie San?”
The Empress: “Yes.”
Emperor Jingxi asked again, “Has the Crown Princess just entered the palace?”
The Empress replied, “Yes, she left in a hurry, likely very worried.”
Emperor Jingxi frowned, pondered for a moment, and finally said, “Empress, I must trouble you to make a trip to Nanqiongzi.”
The Empress raised her eyes, “Your Majesty wants me to go?”
Emperor Jingxi continued, “The Crown Prince is impulsive, and the Crown Princess cannot control him. I fear that even the subordinates dare not discipline him. After all, you are his stepmother. Now, with my token in hand, if anything changes, you may act as you see fit.”
The Empress nodded, “Very well, I shall make another trip to Nanqiongzi.”
Emperor Jingxi added, “Catch them in the act. By then, Mo Yao will surely see clearly and learn his lesson.”
The Empress was slightly taken aback, then looked up at Emperor Jingxi.
His expression was half-lit, half-shadowed, his gaze filled with profound meaning.
The Empress fully understood Emperor Jingxi’s intent.
Whether Lady Ning had indeed committed adultery with Nie San or not, the accusation would be firmly established.
The Crown Princess naturally had her own schemes, and the Empress had her own calculations, but Emperor Jingxi had his own agenda.
He intended to use Lady Ning’s life to strike at the Crown Prince’s heart, to make him realize that his infatuation with women and indulgence in emotions would only lead to futility.
Such a matter was not something he could handle personally, nor would outsiders dare to intervene, so he needed her to act.
She lowered her eyes respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty, I understand.”